HRH The Prince Philip Funeral

[IamnotH]

Watching on BBC 1. Wish Huw would shut up and let us listen to the bands/watch them March.

Then, we we got him home, our parish church wouldn’t allow the burial because of the lead lining.

What was their rationale for that, @MummyJ12? It must have been very upsetting.

Yep, C of E don't do 'smells and bells'

To be fair JD0201 I blame the general public for the royal family’s behaviour following Diana’s. The overall bizarre hysterical mourning and the baying for blood. When only a few weeks previously people were slagging Di off. I think the royal family did that to appease the masses.

@HareIsland

Then, we we got him home, our parish church wouldn’t allow the burial because of the lead lining.

What was their rationale for that, @MummyJ12? It must have been very upsetting.

It really was. They said that they didn’t want to risk lead contamination of the soil and nearby water course. It took absolutely ages to sort out and was stressful at such an already awful time. British Airways were right to request the lining. Dad needed an outfit change before his funeral and viewing by other members of the family. We’d seen him in Washington and it was like he was sleeping. When he got home, he looked aged and not the same at all.

Thanks, @MummyJ12 -- it hadn't occurred to me, but the risk of lead contamination of course makes sense. I can imagine it being complicated and upsetting to arrange, especially as I imagine it's not a process that needs to be done often, apart from in repatriation situations.

- ill never forget the way Diana,s boys were forced to walk behind their mother's coffin in front of the world - such a barbaric act to force on the boys at such a young age. Brutal beyond words.

According to everything I've read, that was Tony Blair's idea. AFAIK Blair has never denied it.

There's one story, reported by someone who was there, that Philip initially told Blair to #### off. But constitutionally the Queen is ultimately obliged to act on the advice of her Prime Minister.

From what I have read, though both boys were hesitant at the suggestion (and could have refused! Nobody would have made them), William thought it was the right thing to do, Harry didn't want to but when his brother, uncle and grandfather said they would, he did.

It was such a long walk but it was extremely moving. They were so very brave. I'll never forget it.

I'll never forget the way Diana,s boys were forced to walk behind their mother's coffin in front of the world - such a barbaric act to force on the boys at such a young age. Brutal beyond words ... Charles should have manned up against his father and stopped this hideous child abuse

Totally agree about this; however while we'll never know if it was true or not, it was said at the time that it was done as protection for Charles in case anyone tried to "have a go" or even shoot him

I don't agree that Charles is very healthy.

Indeed maggie

I don’t believe they were forced at all.

Of course it was difficult for them. No child should have to bury their mother at such a young age. And no child would really want to do it in the full glare of the world. But they did. With the support of their family.

It should have been a quiet affair. But the huge public outpouring of grief took things in another direction.

That may have forced their hand. And Blair jumped on it all like a Labrador on chips.

I think whilst they may not have been forced in terms of “walk or else” the level of pressure on them would have been very difficult for children of that age to resist.

The public have a lot to answer in respect of that funeral and how on show the boys ended up being.

JFD I don't think it was Prince Philip 's idea for the young princes to walk behind the coffin - sections of the public were baying for displays of grief and I believe it was Tony Blair who suggested it to mollify the public. The Queen had wanted to keep the two boys out of the public gaze. The mob hysteria surrounding Diana's death was unedifying to say the least.

The older I get the more I appreciate dignity and I am increasingly horrified by emoting and hand wringing and public wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Sheldonesque 'labrador on chips'

@reprehensibleme EXACTLY!!

@SunshineCake

I don't agree that Charles is very healthy.

How do you know the state of his health? I certainly don't. His face is a bit florid but he spends a lot of time outdoors in the country so that is not surprising. He has never given any indication that he has poor health, he is 72 so may have a few minor issues but he looks OK to me. He still rides and walks a lot, apparently (& I have no evidence of this), he eats a healthy, organic diet from his own farm produce most of the time.

@Releasethebreak

Can someone who is C of E please explain why the coffin of HRH DoE wasn't blessed during the service? (Or did I miss it being blessed?) I'm RC and the priest normally walks around the coffin and blesses it with incense and prayers and sometimes holy water is used, sometimes as the coffin is being carried in to the church. But maybe that is because most RC funerals I have been to are funeral Masses? And maybe the blessings in this instance were done at the vigil (if there was one?)

I've presided at CoE funerals and have never "blessed" a coffin, however, if a Celtic-style funeral is requested I will stand at all four points of the coffin and recite the Gaelic Blessing (Deep peace of the running wave to you/ Deep peace of the flowing air to you/ Deep peace of the quiet earth to you/ Deep peace of the shining stars to you/ Deep peace of the gentle night to you) - or I would prior to Covid - we aren't encouraged to move around more than necessary now, and may not touch the coffin.

I have also, if the family wishes, sprinkled the coffin with water in remembrance of the deceased's baptism. Similarly the lighting of a candle (these are also now discouraged).

Some of these refinements are in accordance with the family's wishes, but there is always a collect, bible reading, psalm and prayers as well as the funeral liturgy.

A funeral may be religious, but need not always follow a strict form.

The mob hysteria surrounding Diana's death was unedifying to say the least

It was indeed, but those of us who ventured to mention this at the time got slaughtered

I've sometimes wondered what the bunfight on here would have been like, had Mumsnet existed at the time ...

.

Deep peace of the running wave to you/ Deep peace of the flowing air to you/ Deep peace of the quiet earth to you/ Deep peace of the shining stars to you/ Deep peace of the gentle night to you

How beautiful

Didn't know you were a celebrant ...

@reprehensibleme

JFD I don't think it was Prince Philip 's idea for the young princes to walk behind the coffin - sections of the public were baying for displays of grief and I believe it was Tony Blair who suggested it to mollify the public. The Queen had wanted to keep the two boys out of the public gaze. The mob hysteria surrounding Diana's death was unedifying to say the least.

The older I get the more I appreciate dignity and I am increasingly horrified by emoting and hand wringing and public wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Totally agree.

Plus, instead of leaving bunches of flowers, teddy bears etc, why not offer a donation to the charities supported by the deceased during their lifetime?

At the moment most charities are desperate for income because they haven't been able to do much fund-raising. I'm sure that PP would rather have had donation to WWW or whatever, rather than a bunch of flowers.

Covi d has meant that such offerings have been comparatively restrained, but the flowers laid for Diana were ridiculous - it was like a collective hysteria that many people felt they had to be part of.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Deep peace of the running wave to you/ Deep peace of the flowing air to you/ Deep peace of the quiet earth to you/ Deep peace of the shining stars to you/ Deep peace of the gentle night to you

How beautiful

Didn't know you were a celebrant ...

I'm a Reader which is a licensed (as opposed to ordained) minister. Funeral ministry is one of the "extras" we can train for if we wish.

And yes - I love to do a Celtic-style service - it's particularly beautiful and steeped in the natural world as well as relating to Christ.

@BishopBrennansArse

Yep, C of E don't do 'smells and bells'

Oh yes we do!

But there is both "high" and "low" church CofE.

I think Catholic services are more standard.

I found it so wrong that the Queen caved in and brought W&H back to London to be seen to be grieving because of the vile press. And the walking behind was just awful, if Blair suggest it, he should be ashamed of himself.

I'm a Reader which is a licensed (as opposed to ordained) minister. Funeral ministry is one of the "extras" we can train for if we wish

Fascinating - and certainly explains your very humane posts on here

Is that what they used to call a "lay preacher"? My late uncle was one of those, and another true humanitarian
Oddly enough considering his background, his will contained strict instructions for a committal only with no kind of service at all. It surprised us at the time, though of course we respected his wish